Non-Slip Athletic Shoe Socklet

ABSTRACT

A on-slip below the ankle athletic socklet for wearing in cooperation with an athletic shoe, where the athletic shoe has an upwardly extending heel and ankle support portion extending upwardly from or comprising an upward extension of the upper edge of the rear portion of the shoe. The socklet includes a heel receiving end and a toe receiving end and is otherwise configured for receiving a wearer&#39;s foot and being positioned within the athletic shoe when the wearer is wearing the athletic shoe and also includes an element adapted to engage and loop over and/or onto said support portion by means of a loop or band fitting over same so as to stabilize the socklet relative to the heel support and prevent migration of the heel receiving end of the socklet towards a forward end of the athletic shoe when the wearer is wearing the socklet with the shoe.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The instant invention pertains generally to below the ankle socks (generally referred to herein as “socklets”) of the type generally warn with athletic shoes for walking, tennis, running and a multitude of activities. More particularly, the instant invention is directed to a non-slip socklet that includes means for hooking onto an upwardly extending heel and ankle support element at the upper end of the athletic shoe's heel portion so as to stabilize the socklet relative to the heel support and prevent slippage relative to the wearer's foot within the athletic shoe.

Background

The instant invention pertains to the types of short socks or socklets used with athletic shoes. These socklets have a tendency to migrate downward from the ankle and heel area of the foot and bunch underneath the foot during normal wear. This can and does often result in user discomfort, inconvenience, chafing and sometimes even more serious injury to the wearer. This problem, which exists even when such socklets are worn for normal uses, is exacerbated by the strenuous and abrupt movements and changes of direction that occur when the socklet and athletic shoe are actually being used for sports or other athletic purposes.

These issues have not gone unnoticed. At present, attempts to remedy the problems outlined typically involve the addition of materials or patches on the outside of athletic socklets that improve or enhance friction/traction and grip between the socklet and the interior of the shoe and/or on the interior of the socklet that help it grip and stay in place on the wearer's foot. These attempts to stabilize the socklet in relation to the interior of the shoe and/or the wearer's foot and prevent the types of socklet sliding and bunching that this invention is intended to cure have not proved to be satisfactory. Examples of other attempts made over the years include those set forth in the patents discussed below.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,238,804 issued to E. A. Brown in 1940 teaches the design for a sock that folds over and fastens to the shoe. This type of design has been followed in various other patents that provide a socklet portion or flap that folds downward over the shoe exterior. Another type of design features a decorative element such as attached ornamental pom poms that block downward slide of the socklet. (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,000,013 issued to W. J. Traenkle in 1959). Two examples of back flaps that fold over the back of the shoe to accomplish the same purpose are to be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,566 issued to R. E. Chesebro in 1963 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,315,276 issued to T. Daxe in 1966. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,324 issued to Gibbs in 1979 teaches a fold down member that fastens to the rear of the heel of the athletic shoe.

While some components of the present invention can be found in such prior art examples, the primary objects of this invention are different from the aforesaid devices. The invention also incorporates unique and non-obvious improvements that not only set it apart from prior art, but better serve not only the general purpose of the invention, but its more specialized purpose in inexpensively, tastefully, and effectively preventing socklet slippage. In all of these aspects, as well as in its simplicity of construction and operation, and versatility it represents a substantial improvement over prior art for its intended purposes.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The above purposes are achieved via the provision of a non-slip, below the ankle, athletic socklet for wearing in cooperation with an athletic shoe, where the athletic shoe has a heel and ankle support portion extending upwardly from or comprising an upward extension of the upper edge of the rear portion of the shoe. The socklet includes a heel receiving end and a toe receiving end and is otherwise configured for receiving a wearer's foot and being positioned within the athletic shoe when the wearer is wearing the athletic shoe. It also includes an element adapted to engage and hook over and/or onto said support portion or element by means of a loop fitting over same so as to stabilize the socklet relative to the heel support and prevent migration of the heel receiving end of the socklet towards a forward end of the athletic shoe when the wearer is wearing the socklet with the shoe. The loop can be formed as an additional strap type element at the upper back edge of the socklet, and can include gripping surfaces of the type known in the art.

Further explanation of the foregoing components and their function in furthering the goals of the invention will be provided with reference to the drawing figure in the detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention will be set forth with particularity in the claims that follow. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further object and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 provides a schematic side view of a socklet with a first type of retention loop in accordance with the teachings of the invention.

FIG. 2 provides a schematic top view of the socklet of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 provides a schematic perspective back view of the socklet of FIGS. 1 and 2 .

FIG. 4 provides a schematic perspective back view of a socklet with a second type of retention loop in accordance with the teachings of the invention.

FIG. 5 provides a side perspective view of a socklet with retention loop in accordance with the teachings of the invention.

DESCRIPTION

As will be noted fro FIG. 1 , the socklet 1 of the invention includes numerous features typical of this article of clothing, such as an opening into which the foot of the user is inserted 2, a heel section 3, and a toe section 4. These same features can be observed where the position of the socklet 1 allows in FIGS. 2 and 3 . However, the distinctive addition to the foregoing is found at the upper back portion of heel 3, and is comprised of a horizontally disposed maintenance band or strap 5 fastened on opposite sides of the elastic band 6 around opening 2 at the top of the socklet 1 by stitching or other appropriate means known in the art 5A. A second embodiment of the invention is provided in FIG. 4 , where the maintenance band or strap 5′ is formed by a portion of elastic band 6 that is separated from the heel portion 3 of the socklet illustrated so as to form an opening 7.

The advantages of the non-slip, below the ankle, athletic socklet 1 described is best seen as it functions in cooperation with an athletic shoe 8 of the type illustrated in FIG. 5 , which has a heel support portion extending upwardly from or comprising an upward extension 8A of the upper edge of the rear portion of the shoe 8. When socklet 1 of the invention, as previously described, is positioned on a wearer's foot, the wearer's foot with socklet 1 can be positioned within the athletic shoe 8 such that extension 8A is inserted through opening 7 as shown in FIG. 5 . In this position, maintenance band or strap 5/5′ is fastened around extension 8A and prevents migration of the socklet 1 towards a forward end of the athletic shoe. Socklet 1 and strap 5/5′ can also include gripping surfaces (not shown) of the type known in the art.

PARTS LIST

-   -   Socklet     -   2 Opening of Socklet     -   3 Heel of Socklet     -   4 Toe of Socklet     -   5 Retention Strap/band     -   5A Fastening for Band 5     -   5′ Retention Strap/band formed from Elastic Ankle Band     -   6 Elastic Band around Opening of Socklet     -   7 Opening for insertion of Heel Extension 8A     -   8 Athletic Shoe     -   8A Heel Extension of Athletic Shoe

In view of the foregoing, it should be clear that numerous changes and variations can be made without exceeding the scope of the inventive concept outlined. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiment(s) of the invention herein described is/are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiment(s) is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which recite those features regarded as essential to the invention. 

1. A non-slip athletic shoe sock for wearing with a shoe having a heel extension at its upper rear edge, comprising: a sock with an opening for insertion of a user's foot into the sock, said sock having a heel section disposed adjacent the user's foot when said foot is inserted into the sock, wherein said heel section has an upper rear portion disposed adjacent the heel extension of a shoe worn by the user; and a band portion having ends joined to said sock at opposite sides of said heel section adapted to fit over and across said heel extension.
 2. The non-slip athletic shoe sock of claim 1, wherein said band portion is one of: a separate member connected to said sock at each of its ends, and an integral portion of said sock.
 3. The non-slip athletic shoe sock of claim 2, wherein said sock is an ankle height socklet having an elastic band portion surrounding its opening, and said band portion is one of: a separate member connected to said elastic band portion at each of its ends, and a part of said elastic band portion.
 4. A combination athletic shoe and non-slip athletic shoe sock, comprising: an athletic shoe having a heel extension at its upper rear edge, comprising; a sock with an opening for insertion of a user's foot into the sock, said sock having a heel section disposed adjacent the user's foot when said foot is inserted into the sock, wherein said heel section has an upper rear portion disposed adjacent the heel extension of the said shoe when worn by the user; and a band portion having ends joined to said sock at opposite sides of said heel section adapted to fit over and across said heel extension.
 5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said band portion is one of: a separate member connected to said sock at each of its ends, and an integral portion of said sock.
 6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said sock is an ankle height socklet having an elastic band portion surrounding its opening, and said band portion is one of: a separate member connected to said elastic band portion at each of its ends, and a part of said elastic band portion.
 7. A method for providing and using a non-slip sock by a user with an athletic shoe having a heel extension at its upper rear edge, comprising: providing a sock with an opening for insertion of a user's foot into the sock, said sock having a heel section disposed adjacent the user's heel when said foot is inserted into the sock, wherein said heel section has an upper rear portion disposed adjacent the heel extension of the said shoe when worn by the user with a band portion having ends joined to said sock at opposite sides of said heel section adapted to fit over and across said heel extension; inserting a user foot into said sock via said opening such that said heel section is disposed adjacent the user's heel; inserting said sock and foot into said shoe such that said said heel section is adjacent the heel extension of the shoe and the band portion is fitted over and across said heel extension.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said band portion is one of: a separate member connected to said sock at each of its ends, and an integral portion of said sock.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said sock is an ankle height socklet having an elastic band portion surrounding its opening, and said band portion is one of: a separate member connected to said elastic band portion at each of its ends, and a part of said elastic band portion. 